Another talented player apparently wants out of Cincinnati. Three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson has requested a trade on the eve of the start of the 2024 NFL Draft, according to ESPN. Hendrickson joins Tee Higgins as Bengals players who have requested a trade this offseason.
Like Higgins, money is reportedly the reason Higgins is asking to be traded. Hendrickson, who is set to make $15 million this season, is looking for longer-term security than the Bengals are willing to offer, according to the report. The Bengals’ possible reluctance to offer more security to Hendrickson may have to do with the fact that the team passed on last year’s first-round pick to fellow defensive end Myles Murphy.
Here’s a list of teams that might be interested in trading for the 29-year-old Hendrickson, who recorded a career-high 17.5 sacks last season.
At this point, Atlanta should use the eighth overall pick on one of the highest-ranked passers in the draft. In Hendrickson, the Falcons would benefit from an experienced and talented passer who is right in the middle of his prime. He would provide an instant boost to a defense in which no one has recorded more than 6.5 sacks in 2023.
This would be somewhat ironic, since the Rams were the team that beat Hendrickson and the Bengals three years ago in Super Bowl LVI. Los Angeles needs help at rushing, and Hendrickson would help mask the loss of recently retired defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Pass rusher is one of the positions the Buccaneers should target in the first round of the draft. Hendrickson is no stranger to the NFC South. He began his NFL career in New Orleans and had a career-high 13.5 sacks in his final season with the Saints (2020).
Detroit is one of several teams expected to select a passer in the first round of the upcoming draft. If the Lions acquire Hendrickson, they would significantly strengthen their pass rush while becoming an even bigger threat to the defending NFC champion 49ers. Money, however, would be a possible obstacle here after the Lions recently extended the contracts of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell and are talking about an extension with Jared Goff.
The Broncos have a lot of needs, passer being one of them. Hendrickson would be an important addition to a defense currently led by cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Hendrickson has plenty of experience facing Patrick Mahomes, the Broncos’ primary opponent in the AFC West. Hendrickson made more than a few big plays against the Chiefs quarterback in two AFC Championship matchups.